If you're new to yoga, you may find yourself staring mystified at the schedule for your local gym or studio and trying to make sense of names like 'iyengar' and 'vinyasa.' Wondering which class is best for you?  Let me break it down for you and point you in the right direction!  There truly is a style of yoga for every body!  


Restorative The focus here is relaxation. If you're looking to de-stress, or you're just simply not up for a fast-paced yoga class, this is the place for you.  Blankets and bolsters do the work for you while you melt into your poses for anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes.  

Hatha This class blends many forms of yoga and allows students to alleviate stress and tension while holding their poses and finding time to explore them.


Anusara While these classes also focus on alignment and use of props, they integrate more personal creativity and lightheartedness into the practice. Students are encouraged to express themselves and have fun.  There is an emphasis on opening your heart throughout this practice which is great for relieving depression. 

Iyengar  This is a class focused on alignment. Props such as blankets, blocks and straps are utilized to help students move perfectly into poses. This is a great place to start if you're interested in learning the rudiments of poses.  


Bikram This style entails a series of 26 poses done in a highly heated room. It's a great style for sweating and grounding (it helps to move inward during practice so you don't think about the heat), so long as you can stand hot temperatures.


Vinyasa This class is focused on connecting movement and breath. You'll move through poses on inhalations and exhalations, and these classes tend to be a quick pace. It's ideal for people who crave a more challenging yoga class and enjoy the creativity and movement within a flow. 

My personal faves for:

anxiety relief- restorative, hatha and vinyasa (yes vinyasa moves faster, but I find that the faster pace helps keep my mind present with the movements and I love the importance on the breath) 

depression relief - anusara

releasing energy (that could build into anxiety)- vinyasa

people nervous to try yoga- restorative, hatha and iyengar  

Now that you feel more empowered to find the right class for you, grab your towel and mat and hit the studio!  enjoy yoga-ing!

xo b

Before we go any further down this yogic path together, I think it’s a good idea to chat about what yoga actually is.  I’ve met a ton of people that become super resistant when they hear the word ‘yoga.’ 

“Yoga isn’t for me, I’m not flexible.”

“Isn’t yoga a religion?”

“It’s too spiritual for me, I’m not into chanting.”

“I don’t understand the other language the teacher uses when she talks about poses.”

Yep.  Been there, heard that.  I get it.  Anything new is scary.  And when we’re trying to reduce our stress, the last thing we want to try is something that actually causes us additional stress.  So here are some quick yoga FAQs, courtesy of Yoga Journal, to help you understand a bit more about this ancient practice we call yoga.

What is yoga?

The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline. 

The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is a collection of 195 statements that serves as a philosophical guidebook for most of the yoga that is practiced today. It also outlines eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints),niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pPranayama(breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana(concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi(absorption). As we explore these eight limbs, we begin by refining our behavior in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (liberation, enlightenment).

Today most people practicing yoga are engaged in the third limb, asana, which is a program of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation.

What does OM mean?

Om is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. It is said to be the sound of the universe. What does that mean?

Somehow the ancient yogis knew what scientists today are telling us—that the entire universe is moving. Nothing is ever solid or still. Everything that exists pulsates, creating a rhythmic vibration that the ancient yogis acknowledged with the sound of Om. We may not always be aware of this sound in our daily lives, but we can hear it in the rustling of the autumn leaves, the waves on the shore, the inside of a seashell.

Chanting Om allows us to recognize our experience as a reflection of how the whole universe moves—the setting sun, the rising moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the beating of our hearts. As we chant Om, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.

Do I have to be a vegetarian to practice yoga?

The first principle of yoga philosophy is ahimsa, which means nonharming to self and others. Some people interpret this to include not eating animal products. There is debate about this in the yoga community—I believe that it is a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves. If you are considering becoming a vegetarian, be sure to take into account your personal health issues as well how your choices will affect those with whom you live. Being a vegetarian should not be something that you impose on others—that kind of aggressive action in itself is not an expression of ahimsa.

How many times a week do I have to practice?

Yoga is amazing—even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of the practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. I suggest starting with two or three times a week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. If you can only do 20 minutes per session, that's fine too. Don't let time constraints or unrealistic goals be an obstacle—do what you can and don't worry about it. You will likely find that after awhile your desire to practice expands naturally and you will find yourself doing more and more.

How is yoga different from other forms of fitness?

Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Patanjali's eight-fold path illustrates how the physical practice is just one aspect of yoga. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind.

Is yoga a religion?

Yoga is not a religion. It is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5,000 years ago. The father of classical ashtanga yoga (the eight-limbed path, not to be confused with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois' Ashtanga yoga) is said to be Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutra. These scriptures provide a framework for spiritual growth and mastery over the physical and mental body. Yoga sometimes interweaves other philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism, but it is not necessary to study those paths in order to practice or study yoga.

Can I practice yoga if I’m not flexible?

Yes! You are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible.

Ok, I’ll try a class.  What do I need?

All you really need to begin practicing yoga is your body, your mind, and a bit of curiosity. But it is also helpful to have a pair of sweat pants, leggings, or shorts, and a t-shirt that's not too baggy. No special footgear is required because you will be barefoot. It's nice to bring a towel to class with you. As your practice develops you might want to buy your own yoga mat, but most studios will have mats and other props available for you

*full article can be found here

Xo b